Antiseptic attachment for telephone-mouthpieces.



No. 720,783. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903. G. W. GLOUGH. ANTISEPTIU ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE MOUTHPIEOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

we mom-us VETERS no Mmoumo" WASHINGTON a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CLOUGI-I, OF IVATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

ANTISEPTIC ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE-MOUTHPIECES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,783, dated February 17, 1903.

Application filed April 17. 1902- Serial No. 103,351. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. CLOUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watsonville, county of Santa Cruz, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Antiseptic Attachments for Telephone-Mouthpieces; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in means for disinfecting telephone mouthpieces. Its object is to provide a simple device which can be quickly attached to any ordinary mouthpiece, which shall in no wise interfere with the transmitting quality of the telephone, and which shall have the property of destroying bacteria and other germs expelled by the breath. These bacteria and germs often render promiscuous use of telephones a menace to health.

The invention consists of an antiseptic or sterilizing adhesive wafer stretched over the end of the mouthpiece and having no other means of attachment to the mouthpiece than its inherent adhesiveness.

The figure shows my attachment applied to the mouthpiece of an ordinary telephone.

In carrying out my invention I take a piece of thin flexible material of suitable strength and texture, cut it into the shape preferably of a disk of slightly greater diameter than the end of the mouthpiece, and then dip it into an antiseptic gum solution or Wax compound Which has the quality of only partially setting when dry, so that the wafer remains flexible and will adhere to the object to which it is to be attached. Either one or both sides of the wafer may be coated. The ingredients of this compound are not essential for the purposes of this-application. Sufficient to say that when the material forming this wafer, which material may be paper, rubber, or any suitable textile fabric, has been so treated the wafer will have the quality of adhering to anything it touches on the application of suiticient warmth and, moreover, all exhalations by the breath will be completely sterilized by contact therewith. The flexibility and adhesive quality of the wafer allows it to be stretched over the end of the mouthpiece A and its ends drawn down against the sides of the mouthpiece to cause it to adhere thereto. As the wafer forms a thin tight drum or diaphragm B it interferes in no way with the transmitting power of the telephone, and it can, be removed at a moments notice to allow another one to be stretched over the mouthpiece whenever the antiseptic qualities have become diminished.

These wafers may be produced at slight expense and Without special machinery, may be packed flat in a box, and require no special or separate appliance to hold them on the mouthpiece.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. An antiseptic attachment for telephonemouthpieces consisting of a thin flat adhesive antiseptic or sterilizing wafer.

2. The combination with the mouthpieceof a telephone, of a flexible wafer or diaphragm having inherent adhesiveness and adapted to be secured to the mouthpiece.

3. The combination with the mouthpiece of a telephone, of a normally flat, flexible wafer having an antiseptic adhesive surface, said wafer adapted to be stretched over the end of the mouthpiece and secured along its gummed edges to the sides of the mouthpiece.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES W. OLOUGH.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoUEsE, JESSIE G. BRODIE. 

